A security ring has been thrown around Bengaluru, which was home to over 200,000 north-easterners, with three companies of the CRPF deployed at the three key areas of Ashoknagar, K.G. Halli and Mico Layout on the request of police commissioner Jyothiprakash Mirji, with more CRPF companies, including the Rapid Action Force, on standby. No trains are reportedly leaving on Saturday as regular trains are scheduled only for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday every week.
Railway authorities said that based on the demand, they will consider deploying more special trains.
The emergency situation has led to inordinate delays of other trains. “Our resources are getting depleted with thousands of people in the unreserved class wanting to leave the city in a day. The Karnataka government must come up with a contingency plan to accommodate them in camps till we get more trains. Thousands of people on the platforms can also be a security hazard,” said a senior railway officer. But sources in the government said keeping the N-E people in camps was out of the question because it would send the wrong signal.
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5 held, others being identified: Shettar
Thufail P.T.
New Delhi, Aug. 17
Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar on Friday said that five persons were arrested and four others were identified in connection with spreading rumours on attacks against the north-eastern people in his state. Speaking to mediapersons in New Delhi, Mr Shettar, however, added that the police was yet to figure out whether these persons were associated with any extremist groups.
“Five persons are already arrested. Four more will be arrested soon. The investigation is going on and more people will be arrested,” Mr Shettar said, also adding that the recent incidents of violence in Assam, Mumbai and Pune had a “psychological impact” in his state. Mr Shettar met Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and appraised him on the action so far taken by the state government on this matter.
Addressing media, the chief minister assured full protection to the north-eastern people in Karnataka even though reports suggested that their exodus continued in Bengaluru on the third consecutive day besides spreading to some other parts of the state.